Classic Albums: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes
by Dan MacIntosh
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Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are one of the best American bands, and Damn the Torpedoes is arguably the group's finest studio album. Tom Petty is one of those rare stars known almost exclusively for his music. You don't see his name in the tabloids much. You don't read about his drug habits in Rolling Stone. And unlike, say, Sting, nobody even knows his favorite sexual positions. But when one of his songs comes on the radio, it is easily recognizable. It's also usually one of the best songs you've heard all day.
Chances are also good that the song you hear comes off of Damn the Torpedoes. And there are just so many good ones to choose from. This album sports "Refugee", "Don't Do Me Like That", and "Here Comes My Girl", just to name a few. Released in 1979 on Blackstreet Records, it came out during a period of financial turmoil for Petty, who even filed for bankruptcy at the time. But the music was beautiful, even if the atmosphere from whence it was birthed was ugly.
For diehard Petty fans, there is nothing more fascinating than watching the singer/songwriter sit at the mixing board with co-producer Jimmy Iovine to relive how the group came up with almost every sound. There's also a great scene with the usually quiet guitarist Mike Campbell where he tells the story of how he purchased the Rickenbacker guitar played during the sessions.
Although Petty gets the most of the face time, the other two principle Heartbreakers (Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench) also get the chance to share their recollections. Co-producer Jimmy Iovine is also a lot of fun to hear talk, simply because he's an East Coast guy who was trying really hard to adjust to the West Coast scene back in the '70s.
This is not one of those VH1 Behind The Music episodes, so you won't see or hear anything lurid. But if you are head-over-heals in love with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' perfected jangle rock sound, this is a must-see DVD.Blu-Ray
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Classic Albums: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes
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